iPhone expected to become multi-carrier in Germany by October

Another prominent exclusive arrangement with Apple for the iPhone is expected to conclude in a matter of months, when it is anticipated that Deutsche Telekom will lose sole access to the iPhone in Germany.

Sources told The Wall Street Journal Friday that Apple's iPhone will become available on two new carriers as soon as October. Currently, the handset is exclusive to Deutsche Telekom, but the plans are reportedly for it to become available on rival carriers Vodafone and O2.

"One said that deals haven't been finalized but added that negotiations are in an advanced stage," the report said. "Deutsche Telekom's exclusive rights to sell the device haven't been extended and could end as early as october, posing a threat to growth in the company's home market."

Deutsche Telekom, which is also the parent company of T-Mobile in the U.S. and elsewhere, has 37 million customers in Germany, while Vodafone has 34.9 million and O2 has 16.3 million.

Elsewhere throughout Europe, the end of exclusivity has resulted in boosted sales for Apple's iPhone. In 2009, the iPhone went multi-carrier in France after a government ruling nullified Apple's exclusive arrangement with Orange. After that, it was estimated that the Apple's handset rose to as high as a 40 percent market share of all smartphone sales in the nation.

In January of this year, Apple officials indicated that they will adopt a multi-carrier strategy where they believe it is appropriate. Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook said at the time that Apple had selected countries where they believed a multi-carrier system would inevitably happen anyhow.

"I don't want to imply that would happen in every market or that we are headed that way in every market," he said.

Of course, the most largest exclusive arrangement for the iPhone is in the U.S., with AT&T. Rumors of a new CDMA iPhone compatible with the Verizon network have persisted for years, but have not become a reality.

In August, AT&T warned that exclusivity for "a number of attractive handsets" will end, leading some to believe that the company was preparing investors for the loss of iPhone exclusivity.

Adding to the rumors is the fact that the relationship between Apple and AT&T has been a controversial one, as some customers have been vocal in their displeasure with AT&T's service. One recent behind-the-scenes report suggested that Apple nearly ended its partnership with AT&T multiple times over a myriad of issues, as Apple was unwilling to restrict the Internet capabilities of its phone, and AT&T struggled to meet the overwhelming pressure the smartphone placed on his network.

And while Apple has allegedly not yet brokered a deal to extend exclusivity with Deutsche Telekom in the company's home country of Germany, there have also been rumors that the company has talked with Apple about a potential deal to bring the iPhone to carrier T-Mobile in the U.S. Of the four major carriers in America, T-mobile is the smallest, with 33.7 million customers as of July.

I'll be getting one (O2, here I come) if they will be fixing the antenna issue, if not, then I'll stick with my 3G for now.

This subject has been beaten like a dead horse.

Are you in the UK? Why don't you find a friend over there with an iP4 and discuss this instead of reading all the nonsense propaganda going on here in the US? I think you'll be pleasantly surprised that the "supposed" issues is simply FUD from apple-haters.

Enjoying my iP4 here in the U.S. "horror-zone" of San Francisco every day. No complaints at all.

If T-Mobile loses their exclusive rights to the iPhone in Germany, most likely they will lose it in the Netherlands as well. In both countries, T-Mobile has currently exclusive rights to the iPhone. However, since T-Mobile Germany owns T-Mobile in The Netherlands, most likely if they loses the exclusive deal it will open up the Dutch market to other carriers as well.

Although I have always been pleased with the service from T-Mobile, many people are not and have avoided the iPhone or purchased an unlocked version in a neighboring country. Opening up the market would give more consumers access to the iPhone.

I'll be getting one (O2, here I come) if they will be fixing the antenna issue, if not, then I'll stick with my 3G for now.

Well, I am in Germany and can guarantee you that the iPhone 4 antenna is by far the best of any iPhone so far; e.g. I do have acceptable reception in the elevator and our underground garage - no other phone has ever achieved that (no iPhone, no BB, no SE and no Nokia phone). I use mine without a case and I never had a single dropped call. GPS lock is faster and more consistent than with the 3G/3GS as well. There is no reason to keep a 3G, unless money is an issue.

Otherwise I am with you, as soon as my current contract is up, I will move to O2 as well. They are the best provider over here.

Are you in the UK? Why don't you find a friend over there with an iP4 and discuss this instead of reading all the nonsense propaganda going on here in the US? I think you'll be pleasantly surprised that the "supposed" issues is simply FUD from apple-haters.

Enjoying my iP4 here in the U.S. "horror-zone" of San Francisco every day. No complaints at all.

The subject may have been beaten like a dead fanboys brains but the issue has not been fixed. Oh that's right. It was all made up by the bloggers at consumer reports.

If T-Mobile loses their exclusive rights to the iPhone in Germany, most likely they will lose it in the Netherlands as well. In both countries, T-Mobile has currently exclusive rights to the iPhone. However, since T-Mobile Germany owns T-Mobile in The Netherlands, most likely if they loses the exclusive deal it will open up the Dutch market to other carriers as well.

Although I have always been pleased with the service from T-Mobile, many people are not and have avoided the iPhone or purchased an unlocked version in a neighboring country. Opening up the market would give more consumers access to the iPhone.

Yep, T-Mobile has the worst coverage (outside of the 'Randstad' metropolitan area) of providers here (KPN is best, Vodafone is #2). I have been waiting for the end of exclusivity and so have many more people.

The CEO of KPN made very Ballmer-like negative comments about iPhone when it appeared. But these days, if you are a business and threaten to go away, they will offer you grey market import unlocked iPhones with contracts. Vodafone has something like that too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2008-MacDailyNews

"Apple’s iPhone is 'pretty useless' and sales in Germany have not dented new customer numbers for E-Plus, the German mobile unit of KPN, said Ad Scheepbouwer, chief executive of the Dutch telecoms company," Michael Steen reports for The Financial TImes.

Steen continues, "However, speaking after KPN reported fourth-quarter results in line with expectations and an upbeat outlook, Mr Scheepbouwer also said KPN would be interested in selling the iPhone in the Netherlands, where it has yet to be launched.

"'I had one and I thought it was a pretty useless phone, to be quite honest,' he told the Financial Times. 'The battery ran out in no time. I didn’t like the touch screen,'" Steen reports. "'We’d be more than happy to sell it,' he added. 'We have half the market in the Netherlands and we hope we will be the party of choice.'"

That would leave the U.S. and Japan as the two largest markets with carrier exclusivity. I would love to see the iPhone come to T-Mobile USA!

T-Mobile has much better reception where I am too - the signal on by jailbroken iPhone 3G is much more consistent. I threw a party on paying my last bill to AT&T. But I am holding out/hoping/praying for a Verizon iPhone in January too.